Thanks to the Flint-area tandem, Jackson says this year’s battle for the
No. 1 spot in the UM backfield is one for the ages — and the
upperclassmen better stand on guard, because their jobs aren’t
guaranteed.

“They know that every day they come to work, they have to
bring a lunch pal because there are freshmen coming out here like
they’re sophomores,” said Jackson. “I don’t know what was taught to
Rawls and Hayes, but they have no fear of the guys that are here. They
have no fear of hitting somebody.”

One would assume the juniors and seniors wouldn’t hesitate to offer
Rawls and Hayes pointers. After all, they’re all on the same team. But
Jackson said, in a serious but playful tone, that he doesn’t expect that
to happen.

“I wouldn’t (offer advice) if I was one of them,” said Jackson. “I think
right now, they better take care of each other and themselves. You help
one of these guys (freshmen), it might be bad...”

Jackson admitted
he was a bit frustrated after the Wolverines’ 2011 spring game.
First-year Wolverines coach Brady Hoke said the team will primarily lean
on one back this fall, and Jackson didn’t see one emerge during the
spring scrimmage that demonstrated what he and Hoke were looking for.

But things changed once Rawls and Hayes set foot in Ann Arbor.

The
thought of Rawls and Hayes’ durability and obvious upsides had Jackson
beaming Sunday in front of reporters in the media room at Bo
Schembechler Hall. Seemingly relieved, Jackson said he sensed a new era
of UM football on the horizon, along with a new sense of self. And much
of that has to do with the recruitment of Rawls and Hayes.

View full sizeFileGrand Blanc grad Justice Hayes breaks for a run against Romeo.

“This is a new Fred Jackson. That’s how I feel,” he said. “I’ve been
given the opportunity to do what I do best in terms of developing guys,
and I feel like I got some guys that are going to be excellent players
(Rawls and Hayes). You guys (the media) are going to write about them in a positive
way for a long time.”

The powerful style of Rawls fits well at UM, said Jackson and Hoke.
Hayes’ ability to catch passes out of the backfield and elusive nature
bodes well for an offense that scored nearly 33 points and rushed for
238 yards per outing in 2010 (both third in Big Ten).

“(Rawls is) very physical, an excellent runner,” said Jackson. “He’s a
great pad-level runner. He gets under the defense and moves the pile.
Justice Hayes isn’t a pile-driver guy — he’s a guy that if you’re in a
phone booth, he can probably make you miss him.

“I can’t remember a guy I’ve had that’s like him.”

There has been
recent speculation that Hayes would be moved to the slot receiver
position. But Jackson put that rumor to rest, saying, “Justice Hayes is a
running back and will be a running back.”

Jackson said UM football followers can expect to see who the No. 1 back
will be within the first two games of the regular season, which opens
Sept. 3 when the Wolverines host Western Michigan. Jackson said he
doesn’t intend to hold his athletes back — each have been given a fair
shot — but there can only be one No. 1 back.

“I think after a game or two, someone is going (prove) to be the
heir-apparent,” said Jackson. One such back could be Rawls or Hayes,
although Jackson didn’t specifically say so.

“Don’t be shocked if they both play very early this year,” he said. “They’re both very good.”